Alberta Innovates- Health Solutions

Every six years, the Foundation is reviewed by an International Board of Review (IBR). Many have asked what is the purpose of the review and how are the members of the panel selected. Over the past 18 months, the Trustees of the Foundation have requested and received suggestions for suitable members for the IBR from the health research community worldwide. The long list was reviewed, and a shorter list developed by our Scientific Advisory Council and our Health Advisory Committee. The goal was to bring together renowned individuals from the national and international research community for this panel. Suggested people were then contacted individually and a group assembled with a wide range of expertise to cover the broad spectrum of activities in which the Foundation is involved (biomedical, clinical and health research, as well as technology commercialization, health technology assessment, communications and more).

As for the purpose of the review, the IBR is mandated by the Act, which established AHFMR, to review the programs of the Foundation according to its mission. This mission is to establish and support a balanced, long-term program of medical research in Alberta directed to the discovery of new knowledge and its application to improve health.

The IBR will submit a report to the Trustees of the Foundation commenting on the impact and effectiveness of the present programs in achieving the objectives of the mission. They may also recommend, if required, modifications to the present programs or consideration of new programs to achieve these same objectives.

The IBR visited Alberta from October 5 to 9, 1998, and met with a large number of individuals and groups from the universities, government and health research community at large.